Both a part of Citroën’s semi-premium Different Spirit (DS) line-up, the DS4 THP163 and DS5 THP156 are priced at RM165,000 and RM195,000 respectively (both on the road prices with five-year unlimited mileage warranty), making them quite a big step up from fellow Naza-stablemates Peugeot 308 and 508.

Explaining the price difference are the facts that these cars are CBU models built in France, are specced full of kit and most significantly, possesses a higher level of quality and prestige than the regular Peugeots. These are DS models, remember. Elsewhere, Citroën has the C4 and C5 models marketed alongside similarly priced Peugeot 308 and 508 respectively.

First up, the DS5. It’s a Citroën alright. It looks like nothing else on the road with its wild character lines and aerodynamic silhouette. The chrome-finished ‘sabre’ extending from the large headlights is a creative design move that is both unique and eye-catching, as is the feature-rich rear end with its glass-mounted rear spoiler. It splits the fine line between a hatchback and an estate by being taller and larger than either body style.

Under the hood, the DS5 is powered a turbocharged 1.6 litre direct injection petrol engine paired to a six-speed automatic gearbox (regular torque converter this time, not the EGS sequential ‘box brought in by the previous distributor) driving the front wheels. Power is rated at 156 hp, with 240 Nm of torque, good enough for a 0-100 km/h time of 9.7 seconds and a top speed of 202 km/h.

The aerospace-inspired styling is matched with an equally sleek interior. For starters, there are aircraft-style overhead controls and then there’s the split three-piece glass canopy – one each for the driver and front passenger and a larger one for the rear cabin.

As for the seats, you get a choice of either Fauve Club of Red Club leather with bracelet confection (i.e fancy folds and creases on the seat back). The wheels are 18-inch items with black gloss diamond-effect. On the safety front, the DS5 is fitted with ESP, ABS, EBD, EBA and six airbags in total.

Moving along, the DS4 is the second member of the DS family, joining the pioneering DS3. It’s essentially a Volkswagen Golf-size hatchback styled as a 2+2 coupe – a layout that draws comparisons to the Scirocco. It has four doors though (the rear door handles are hidden within the window line); with three-abreast seating configuration in the rear quarters.

It rides on a raised ride height akin to a mini-SUV, making it, as Citroën would claim, a “five-door high stance coupe”. The accompanying SUV-size wheel arches may make the standard 18-inch wheels look underwhelming, but the DS4’s heavily sculpted sheet metal and curvaceous body draw attention away from it.

Here in Malaysia it’s offered in a single THP163 guise, with the same engine and gearbox as the DS5. It’s tuned to the same specifications as the Peugeot 408 Turbo though – 163 hp and 240 Nm of torque – and is capable of completing the 0-100 km/h sprint in 9.3 seconds. Top speed is 212 km/h.

Inside it’s a French masterpiece of superfluous design, distinctly putting form ahead of function. It certainly looks and feels premium enough, with soft-touch materials and plenty of chrome detailing enveloping the driver-oriented cabin. The upswept windscreen that extends well into the roofline adds a unique touch.

Automatic dual-zone climate control, Arkamys sound system, Bluetooth connectivity, auto wipers, xenon headlamps, massaging driver’s seat and leather upholstery (Habana Club hide with bracelet confection) are all standard. The DS4 gets the same safety features as the more expensive DS5, with the addition of a blind spot monitoring system.

Naza Euro Motors also launched its new Citroën Glenmarie 3S centre alongside the new models. The RM3.5 million, 22,000 sq ft flagship outlet will handle all the sales and aftersales activities for the brand. Three more Citroën outlets will follow later in the year, as will one more new model.

So there you have it guys. New distributor, new 3S centre, two eye-catching models with five-year, unlimited mileage warranty. Citroën, anyone?

Preferring to drive cars rather than desks, Hafriz Shah ditched his suit and tie to join the ranks of Malaysia’s motoring hacks. A car’s technical brilliance is completely lost on him, appreciating character-making quirks more. When not writing this ego trip of a bio, he’s usually off driving about aimlessly, preferably in a car with the right combination of three foot pedals and six gears.

Citroen already a big failure brand in Malaysia, now you give it to crony company Naza to run, the brand sure die. Naza is so used to goverment handouts and free APs that they don’t know how to build the brand and be competitive in the industry. Naza is so lazy I think poor Citroen sure kaput.

Sam Loo- why are u a lousy pessimist..its all about business…i salute Naza for being able to convince and work with an European partner..which is not easy…dont be jealous cos your not good to afford one

Yes we have full confidence in the name but too bad we are play out. Inexperience mechanic and lastly, the service centre even pack up and go telling us to send our car to KL for service and repair. We are even unsure how to get the car on to the ship, cause the car can’t start. It is like buying a Ferrari. Service and repair can only be done in KL.Then don’t sell it in East Malaysia in the first place.

Infortunately, DS5 is not built on the C5 / 508 platform, but the stretched version of PSA’s BVH2 platform that underpins the smaller C4, DS4 and 3008. This decision is strange, because the car is actually positioned higher than C5 on the price list. Bear in mind that the family hatch platform comes with an unsophisticated torsion-beam rear suspension, a clear disadvantage compare with the C5’s multi-link geometry and Hydractive system. We’ll know what this mean later on, but to Citroen the immediate effect is lower production cost. The money saved is invested back into the car to improve its materials and build quality, boosting its showroom appeal.

I read other review, that the handling is its biggest problem, because the steering feels numb (despite of electro-hydraulic assistance)and the chassis lacks throttle adjustability. An adverse effect of the stiff suspension to hide the torsion beam construction and thin tires makes a poor ride. On anything less than smooth surfaces, the DS5 feels fidget. Bigger bumps and potholes send unacceptable shocks into the cabin. This contradicts to the sophisticated environment or the excellent wind noise suppression. Things might get a little better with 16 or 17-inch wheels, but they fail to fill the large wheel wells enough for the best visual effect.

@Jeff: A 4 seat family car? Top Gear cares about driving dynamics, not comfort.

The range topping Citroen is sitting on an inferior platform meant for affordable C segment cars?! Makes no sense at all. You simply expect much more than that in this segment, from cars that are cheaper.

If the steering were sporty too, OK, maybe still acceptable. But a steering system that is designed for comfort, in a car that is supposed to be luxurious, but with a harsh ride? What the hell?

Kadajawi- if one wants comfort one buys the C5..DS series is a sub-brand all about personality and driving dynamics. Harsh ride…? maybe on very bad surfaces, the Mini Cooper is also harsh but nobody complains.

With the Koreans and Mazda putting up some interesting styling on sale, it’s pretty hard to stand out in the crowd lately, so RM195k is not bad for a car of that styling. With aerospace interior(switches on the roof!) and that sevelt estate look, this car will definitely stand out in the crowd. Though the performance does disappoint a little, and being imported from France, wonder weather the engine can cope with the heat and humidity, don’t want another of my fathers story of a 204, blowing the engine cooler to see if there is a bubble before taking off.

AVh- there are many DS4 cars nearly 1 year running without problems- 207 engine ( not 204 or was it 304?) is a dinosaur model so the comparison is not valid.The design maybe too sophisticated to some who are used to Proton or japanese designs

I’m happy to report that I’ve been to a country where the weather (temp,humidity) is exactly like malaysia, if not worse and DS3 (basic spec) were used widely as rental car. Under our team, we had 2 DS3 and 3 fiesta. All are driven with, u know la, how people drive rental car and they can take all the abuses very well.

i think pricing for DS5 is quite fair…not so with DS4…brooklands priced DS4 at 155k for auto version…DS5 is packed to the brim with options…full spec car like this would have costed more than 200k…but with NAZA’s connections…lol…i must say it’s a good move…5 year unlimited mileage warranty…great!

Nearly 200k for a super sized C segment car? Regardless of how good the specs and looks are, that is a very bold move.

I don’t think Naza intends to sell a lot of cars here, PSA will be very disappointed. In the end Brooklands sales will have been better, lol. Naza wants to protect Peugeot sales instead, giving them Citroen is a chance for them to eliminate a competitor.

Interesting to note that this cars are actually sort of spec for the malaysian market. If im not mistaken the only engine in petrol for the european market is the thp 200 which only comes with a manual (i suspect this is why naza ask for special configuration). Still, bring the diesels!

Not true. The DS4 comes with a 120 hp petrol, the 163 hp one we get, and that 200 hp one. However only the 163 hp one is available with an auto gearbox. For the DS5 the options are that 156 hp petrol and the 200 hp petrol, but only the 156 hp one is paired with an auto gearbox.

the DS4 looks good and its within golf TSI range for those who prefers a unique ride on the road.
the DS5…..wow just mind blowing, superb interior and exterior, it just oozes with wow factor.
i find that citroen cars have better styling than the sister peugeot, wonder why did they decide on peugeot to be the upper class brand…

Hm, no, Citroen is being positioned as the upper class brand. At least in Malaysia. Elsewhere I’d say it is the same. The range is nearly identical, with Citroen having an edge in the premium section, but Peugeot is keen on closing that gap with a few more premium models.

When you are prepared financially to buy a car, you buy. I dont understand why people are talking about RV. If you want RV buy gold or property. You buy a car to drive and Citroen are pioneers in design and innovation. Dont like, buy proton and STFU!

When the BMW Mini was launched it had great RV… if you had one, you could sell it at a profit after a while. I believe when the smart fortwo was launched in the US the queue was also so long that people were willing to pay more for a second hand car than for a new one… because they could get it immediately.

Hi shuk rocco, the DS4 price as you mentioned RM150k was the semi-auto variant that Brookland Motors offered before adding insurance…OTR price for that variant was RM155k. What Naza has brought in is the fully auto variant that Brookland Motors was selling at RM160k without insurance, the price difference between Brookland Motors and Naza is only a mere ringgits difference – if you didn’t know, now you know.

i don’t see any reason to buy the DS5 at RM195K…
1) brand’s value in Malaysia = extremely low and even unknown by majority of people >> RV low.
2) for such price, the HP is deemed low..
3) people affordable for the car will definitely want to pay a little bit more for an audi A4

Styling wise is pretty great I must say, however the real concern lies on brand value, limited SC support (maintenance will be high in correlation) & second hand value. I believe VW is certainly a better buy although both will have more of less the same types of bells & whistles :)

Naza’s prices are off…sure its CBU but we have other CBU models that are priced accordingly (read above comments) but this isn’t.

I’d agree that the DS models look awesome and their spec list is good but the DS5 could have been better with stuff like blind spot system and lane change aid plus maybe tyre pressure loss sensor and adaptive xenons to make it more special.

Nonetheless these 2 models are sure are beautiful and but only reserved for people who don’t mind RV and for people who have say 500k budget for a Japanese D segment car for daily use and a DS4/5 for weekend use.

I unfortunately do not fall into both categories as my budget only limits me to one car and I do mind RV as in the event of an unfortunate fate and I need to sell the car (lemon car or major accident), I’m better off with a Japanese model =/

Surprised that it is priced slightly higher compared to previous distributor. Maybe, this time it has a slightly better after sales compared to the previous one(Hopefully). This is not my first time saying this but they really should bring in the DS3 as well. On the other hand, yes the DS5 is rather expensive I would say. However, I feel that it is a unique car. Perhaps, giving a little variety against the 508 wagon.

Good to see the DS family in town. Always have soft spot for Citroens. Our family owns a few models in the 90s and I would say it was a great memory. No doubt reliability was a major concern but the connection with the car was priceless. Loved the designs and emotions. something that’s sorely missing in japanese models back then (and to some extent now). Would love to get the DS4 but alas, it’s priced at such a bracket that seemed overly ambitious and out of reach.

Actually the list price for 6 speed auto by brookland was 160k but with only 3 years warranty…naza offer 5 years @ 165k..so not much different…the other variants were egs gearbox selling @ 155k and manual @ 150k…the manual version was a steal because it is tuned at 200hp and 19′ rim…egs drives a little quirky so it is smart by naza not to bring it in…brookland service center was surprisingly good…heard naza recruited their top technicians over….hopefully the new center will be as we’ll…full disclosure, I drive a ds4 now and loving it.

Despite its hatchback + estate exterior design, the Citroen DS5 is meant to compete in the entry level semi-premium executive segment.Which means it competes directly with the VW CC & Volvo S60 and very closely in the German Big Three territory.I think Citroen deliberately chose this type of design to offer premium customers unique driving expereience.

Update on Naza-Citroen services: I was stranded in Mutiara Dsara as my C4 2011 has a flat battery and I called Naza-Citroen helpline, but the breakdown service team would not come to my rescue as it’s almost 5pm. I was told that the Naza-Citroen breakdown service is also not familiar with the Citroen cars unlike Peugeot . Anyway the Customer Relations officer promised me – twice – that he will have the breakdown team go to my home (after I have AAM jump start my car) the next day at 8.30am to 9.00am. BUT by 12 noon no one came. I called Naza-Ctroen and was told that the Customer Relations officer is on MC, thus no one knows about my case. Since my car is 1 year plus, the battery warranty has expired, so they will charge RM120.00 for such outdoor services excluding the battery cost! So, if you’re a Citroen owner and encountered a breakdown, you better be prepared Naza-Citroen may not attend to you. You better pray you won’t be stranded in some dodgy or isolated locations! During Directional and Brooklands tenure, when you have a breakdown, you’ll get help from their breakdown service team 24 hours, without fail. I just hope what I heard about the negative feedback regarding their after sales service by the Naza group will not persist after this experience of mine, hoping that after the transition period of Brooklands to Naza wil see marked improvement in such services, if not I will not use Citroen cars anymore after being an owner for 18 years now.

Naza-Citroen after sales service department number is 0355695890. Better to call them directly for quicker response via this number than to call the general enquiries hotline.
Naza just took over from Brooklands a while back, so sure still got teething problems. im sure they will be better soon. see the way peugeot mushroomed.

Test driven both the C5 and DS5 today. Comfort wise I will go for the C5 which is around Rm181,888 but at RM195 OTR with insurance you can get the fully loaded DS5 which is a superb car. I have driven a Xsara before a decade ago and I would say it was a great car. Let’s put RV aside coz you better get a house instead.
And to Sam Loo,I believe you must be biggest loser in lifer. Every car also you critisize. What car do you drive? A Bentley or Panamera or none of the above?

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